He inclined his head.
“I hear,” he said, formally.
“Yes.” Mr. dea'Gauss sighed. “The second thing you need to hear, your lordship, is rather complex. If you would prefer that I come to you—”
“We have begun, sir,” Daav interrupted. “Let us by all means continue until we reach the end.”
“As you say.” There was silence for the beat of three. In the screen, Mr. dea'Gauss glanced aside, as if gathering his thoughts. It was then that Daav saw that his man of business was not calling from the offices downtown, but from what appeared to be his private rooms.
“The following is proposed, as an offering to Mizel,” Mr. dea'Gauss said at last. “There are five specific points.”
Five points? Daav wondered. But what use had they for points, or for appeasing Mizel in any way if Aelliana—
'One. Korval will pay to Mizel the life-price for a first class pilot as set down in the Accounting Standards. That sum will be paid in full at the time the contract is signed.
'Two. In six years, Korval will pay to Mizel the life-price for a scholar expert as set down in the Accounting Standards.
“Three. Sinit Caylon will be fostered into yo'Lanna for six years in order to complete her education.”
Daav sat forward in his chair.
'Four. In acknowledgement of the fact that Mizel is grown dangerously thin—and made thinner yet by reason of Three, above, a dea'Gauss will be placed into Mizel's service for a period of six years, to perform those tasks that would, in the proper order of things, fall into the nadelm's honor.
“Five. Aelliana Caylon will pay the blood-price for Ran Eld Caylon's death, which debt properly falls to her, when Sinit Caylon takes up Mizel's Ring.”
It was a thing of broad and scintillant amazement, Daav thought; a solving worthy of a delm. Saving one or two small details.
“Mr. dea'Gauss, I stand in awe of Pilot Caylon's solution. However, I cannot help but notice that your Line has become entangled in Korval's contract, which we surely cannot have—”
“Your lordship of course is not conversant with all the details of our House,” Mr. dea'Gauss interrupted. “I therefore hasten to assure you that this is the very solution toward which I have been groping for a Standard or more. There is one of my House, who serves in the firm, for whom this proposed assignment is—in a word, your lordship, perfect.” He inclined his head. “I welcome this opportunity to further strengthen the bonds between our clans.”
There could be no doubting his sincerity, Daav thought. He inclined his head.
“Very well, Mr. dea'Gauss. I also see that we have involved yo'Lanna in this. It is perhaps unworthy of me to suppose it, but I fear my mother's dear friend will not share your generous impulse.”
“On the contrary, your lordship. Pilot Caylon reports that her ladyship would be delighted to assist in this matter. She asserts that it is not to yo'Lanna's benefit to see Mizel dissolved and further states that it is the duty of the High to assist those who stand below.”
Daav gave a shout of laughter.
“Exactly,” Mr. dea'Gauss said solemnly. “I should add,” he said after a moment, “that Pilot Caylon was kind enough to calculate the seed money needed for the proposed future payouts, and to cite several funds paying interest enough to grow the seed into payment in full.”
Daav bit his lip. “No doubt the exercise afforded considerable pleasure to Pilot Caylon.”
“She seemed very much in spirits,” Mr. dea'Gauss said quietly.
Daav took a breath against the sudden stab of longing. Below the desk, out of sight of the screen, he clenched his fists until his knuckles screamed.
“I am pleased to hear it,” he said, steadily. “Mr. dea'Gauss, in your considered opinion—is Mizel likely to take this?”
“There lies the genius of the plan, your lordship. If Mizel does not take it, then the delm must surely be brought before her peers and closely questioned as to her reasons. As Lady yo'Lanna states, it benefits no one to allow a clan to dissolve. In offering this, Korval is seen as looking to the best benefit of Liad.” Mr. dea'Gauss inclined his head. “Which is according to its charter.”
Daav bent his head and considered the plan. It posed, in its way, just as much risk as the one he and dea'Gauss had produced, yet carried a greater likelihood of success, if Mr. dea'Gauss was to be believed, and an avenue of legal recourse open to them, if Mizel balked.
“It is well,” he said, raising his head. “I do not need to ask you to bend your best efforts, I know. Please, proceed as you see fit in negotiating these new terms. The dice are in your hand.”
Mr. dea'Gauss bowed.
“I shall do my utmost, your lordship.”
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Liaden 11 - Mouse and Dragon
